Lakers to honour club hero Kobe
Los Angeles, Sept. 13: The Los Angeles Lakers will retire both jersey numbers worn by club legend Kobe Bryant before a December 18 game against NBA champions Golden State, the team said on Tuesday.
Bryant wore number eight in his first 10 seasons before switching to number 24 for another decade.
“As a kid growing up in Italy, I always dreamed of my jersey hanging in the Lakers rafters, but I certainly never imagined two of them,” Bryant said in a statement.
“The Lakers have bestowed a huge honour on me and I’m grateful for the fans’ enthusiasm around this game,” he said.
In his two-decade career — all spent with the Lakers — Bryant scored 33,643 points, the third-most in NBA history behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone.
He will become the 10th player from the Lakers side to have his number retired, joining among the list of Wilt Chamberlain (13), Elgin Baylor (22), Gail Goodrich (25), Magic Johnson (32), AbdulJabbar (33), Shaquille O’Neal (34), James Worthy (42), Jerry West (44) and Jamaal Wilkes (52).
“Kobe’s jerseys are taking their rightful home next to the greatest Lakers of all time,” Lakers chief executive and controlling owner Jeanie Buss said. “There was never any doubt this day would come,
the only question was when. Once again, Lakers fans will celebrate our hero, and once again, our foes will envy the legendary Kobe Bryant.”